Bell Dawn Patrol Headlight Review

I recently purchased a mountain bike for around the town commuting and needed a good inexpensive headlight for the night rides that I do.

I went to Copelands Sports Store at the mall and found a couple of cheap clearence items in the bicycle section. Then I came across just what I needed! Bell Dawn Patrol headlights! Xenon powered, side portal beams as well. I knew what the word Xenon meant so I decided to take a chance and buy two of the lights to mount on my bike. Total cost (since they were on Christmas clearence = $4.75 each!)

I went home and first put on the headlight mounts. This was totally easy and tool free. Just turn the little round knobs and unhook the clamp and then clamp the hook over your handlebar of your bicycle and then turn the knob to tighten.

Next came the actual headlight unit itself. This headlight takes 4 AA batteries so be forewarned that you can go through batteries quickly if you ride a lot at night like I do.

I quickly invested in a battery recharger and 8 AA rechargeable batteries the same day.

Unlocking the battery holder mechanism can be a real pain at first. You need to really hold the headlight firmly with one hand (in this case your stronger hand, my right hand) and then you take your thumb and second finger in your left hand to push open the unit. It can be a real pain to open the first time you get this light.

I put in the 4 AA batteries and depressed the on/off switch and BOOM, the Xenon headlight came on! It is an EXTREMELY bright light with fresh batteries and you do not want to look directly into its beam.

Riding under ideal city conditions with street lights around you, you will be okay. It's a light to be seen with, not to see what is in front of you as the street lighting will out do these lights.

However when riding an unlighted trail and some streets/cul de sacs where street lighting was minimal I was extremely pleased with how bright the two lights lit up the trail; the ground and the sides as well. With fresh batteries, the light will be pretty bright. Overtime as the batteries run low, you will also notice that the beam will decrease in brightness. This means to get new batteries! There is no low battery indicator light on these headlights.

I would highly recommend that you get two of these lights and a rechargeable battery system as well. It is a fairly inexpensive system to invest in if you just want to be seen. If you want to be seen and BE ABLE TO SEE clearly your riding path, then you may want to invest in a HID (High Intensity Discharge) system which can run anywhere from $55.00 to $500 at your local REI store. These lights are the brightest lights I've ever seen but cost you an arm and a leg.

But for just normal city riding to just be seen the Bell Dawn Patrol Xenon bicycle headlights work just fine for me.

(Also I have crashed once on my bike once before, and one of the lights popped off the handlebar mount. I also lost my batteries inside as well... oh well. :( )

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Product Description:
Black, high impact plastic. Bright headlight with illuminated side lenses. Fits all bicycles. Mounts on handlebar stem. Uses 2 "C" batteries not included.

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Blackburn Mars 2.0 Flasher Rear Bicycle Light Review

It is a big and bright light that turns on easily with a rubberized switch.In addition to solid on, there are two flashing patterns.The battery life is amazingly long when you stick with the flashing modes.

However, when you do have to change the battery, you'll be removing some screws to open the cover.If you ride on salty roads, you'll also discover that the hardware isn't stainless.The screws on mine became pretty rusty over one winter.

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Product Description:
An essential measure for any safety-conscious biker, the Blackburn Mars 2.0 Rear Bicycle Light will help make sure you are seen by traffic in plenty of time. The Mars 2.0 is constructed in a tough, water-resistant case and utilizes six super-bright red LEDs. This rear bicycle light features a no-tools mounting bracket that also mounts to a Blackburn rack. Blackburn's Mars 2.0 runs on two AAA batteries (included) for 60 hours in steady mode, or 200 hours in flash mode.
About Blackburn
In 1975, Jim Blackburn set out to design stronger, lighter, more innovative and more reliable cycling products. The first were bags and racks designed for touring. From there, Blackburn grew. Over the next 30 years, Blackburn's spark of innovation would lead to many revolutionary products, like the first high quality aircraft aluminum rack, the first dual stroke minipump, the first oversized mountain minipump and the first dual stage/dual stroke floorpump just to name a few. For 2005, Blackburn's creative spark is burning brighter than ever. And as we head into our 30th year, Blackburn is re-dedicated to designing smart, reliable, no nonsense accessories that are essential to your riding experience.

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Topeak Red Lite 4-LED Ultra-Bright Rear Bicycle Light Review

I'm changing my review after two months of use. Yesterday the unit broke off my topeak trunk rack when loading it in my car trunk. I will not replace it with the same light. Before it broke it looked like the clip mount was also breaking anyways. It just was not bright enough. There is another light I have which is much stronger called the planet bike superflash, which I will buy a second one and have two mounted.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Topeak Red Lite 4-LED Ultra-Bright Rear Bicycle Light

Product Description:
A ultra-bright 3 LED tail light with wide angle lens. Features a steady and blinking function. 3 ultra bright L.E.D. tail light, with on/off, blinking and steady selection. Wide angle (220 degree) reflective lens. Mounts to seat post, Topeak seat bags, or seat stay. Bulb: 3 L.E.D. / 10000 hrs (life time). Battery: Lithium Battery. Burn Time: 60 hrs (constant hour). Weight: 16 grams (without battery).

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Blackburn Quadrant and Mars 3.0 Combo Bicycle Light Set Review

At first I was hesitant to get a battery powered headlight and taillight, but after I installed it (with ease), I LOVED IT!! The LED headlight is very bright and the LED taillight is virtually impossible to miss (I think it is as prominent as some motorcycle taillights). The ability to flash each light and the taillight also having orange lights on the side makes it even more visible. Mounting the lights on my bike only took 15 minutes and only the taillight needed for me to use a screwdriver (to tighten and tweak the angle). The LEDs are really great and so far after using it for over 4 hours, I see no fade in the light power. The headlight has four LEDs with 3 modes (4 steady, 2 blink 2 steady, and 4 blinking (which looks like a strobe light)) and the rear also has 3 modes (steady, steady blinking, and random blinking). Be aware that you will need a jewelers screwdriver to open the rear taillight to install the batteries. Each of the lights detaches from the bike mounts and allow you to use them when camping or to clip on the taillight to your bookbag or clothing for visibility when walking along a highway or where cars are present, and the headlight can be used as a nice flashlight. The only thing I have to say is that you still need to look out for cab drivers in the Big Apple, since they can't stand that your lights are brighter than theirs and seem drawn to bikers while driving. Get this light, you won't regret it, I sure didn't. :-)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Blackburn Quadrant and Mars 3.0 Combo Bicycle Light Set

Product Description:
An essential measure for any safety-conscious biker, the Blackburn Quadrant and Mars 3.0 Combo Bicycle Lights will help make sure you see the road and drivers see you. This combination of lights includes one Blackburn Quadrant light and one Blackburn Mars 3.0 light. The Quadrant is constructed in a tough, water-resistant case and utilizes four super-bright white LEDs. This bicycle light features optically-boosted center LEDs that light up what is ahead, and wide angle side LEDs with side-light pipes that provide 180-degrees of visibility. Blackburn's Quadrant light runs on four AA batteries (included) for 110 hours in steady mode, or 300 hours in flash mode.
The Mars 3.0 is constructed in a tough, water-resistant case and utilizes seven super-bright red LEDs. This rear bicycle light features lens optics that increase its visible distance, and side LEDs that provide 180-degree safety-boosting visibility. Blackburn's Mars 3.0 runs on two AAA batteries (included) for up to 50 hours in steady mode, or 150 hours in flash mode.
About Blackburn
In 1975, Jim Blackburn set out to design stronger, lighter, more innovative and more reliable cycling products. The first were bags and racks designed for touring. From there, Blackburn grew. Over the next 30 years, Blackburn's spark of innovation would lead to many revolutionary products, like the first high quality aircraft aluminum rack, the first dual stroke minipump, the first oversized mountain minipump and the first dual stage/dual stroke floorpump just to name a few. For 2005, Blackburn's creative spark is burning brighter than ever. And as we head into our 30th year, Blackburn is re-dedicated to designing smart, reliable, no nonsense accessories that are essential to your riding experience.

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Disney Princess Micro Bicycle Helmet and Protective Pad Value Pack (Child) Review

Our 4 year old received this for a birthday present.The helmet is ok, except that the adhesive pads inside came off the first wearing (and the adhesive got in her hair - what a mess!).The knee and elbow pads are too stiff to stay on her knees and elbows.And they are just a plastic bubble.The first time she fell, the plastic shattered on one of them and made it worthless and dangerous for further use.

The big sell point was that it was pink and had the Princesses on it.Why can't Disney make quality products?They sure charge enough!

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Blackburn Flea Front/Rear Combo Light Review

It's quite amazing how something so small could produce so much light. I purchased both the front and tail light combo and love everything about each light.

The front light is incredibly bright in its normal mode and if you crank it up to overdrive mode it gets even brighter. The flashing mode is very noticeable and I'm positive that drivers coming towards you will see the flashing. They'll probably even be annoyed by it.

The tail light is equally impressive and features a steady mode, a flashing mode, and a chase mode which is essentially the lighting pattern that occurs on a police car's roof lights. The red lights are very visible and my family said they could clearly see the tail light even though I was at the very end of my street. Both the front and tail lights can attach to your bike in a variety of places via the Velcro straps provided.

The charging system for these lights is a little different then traditional systems. Each light comes with a small set of jumper cables that attach to a regular battery as the opposite magnetic leads attach to the light itself. The whole system is small just like the lights themselves but works surprisingly well.

Overall, the Blackburn Flea lights are very small but also very bright and are a great investment for someone looking to ride during the nighttime hours.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Blackburn Flea Front/Rear Combo Light

Product Description:
Grab the Blackburn Flea Front/Rear Combo Light when you head out for a night ride, and make yourself visible to traffic. The fully rechargeable front light sports four super-bright white Nichia LEDs and three light modes that ensure you can see clearly as you crank in the dark. The flexible mounting design on both lights utilizes hook-and-loop straps that attach nearly anywhere on your bike. Put the rear light on your seatpost and utilize the steady, flash, or chase mode to ensure you?re visible in low light. When the charge runs out re-juice it using any battery you have lying around by plugging the magnetic leads to the battery.

Product Features

Bulbs: [Front] 4 LED; [Back] 4 LED
Modes: [Front] 3, [Back] 3
Lumens:
Batteries: [Both] Rechargeable
Battery Run Time: [Both] 3-6 Hours
Weight: [Each light] 0.6oz (17g)
Recommended Use: Cycling, road biking, mountain biking
Manufacturer Warranty: 1 Year

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Blackburn Mars 3.0 Flasher Rear Bicycle Light Review

First impressions often lead to purchases which the passage of time reveals as mistaken.Such was the case with this light.True, it is very bright and well constructed to resist the elements.Then, the defects emerge.

Firstly, the batteries must rather laboriously be changed by removing three tiny screws, which although ensuring a tight seal in wet weather, are also prone to becoming lost or simply cross-threaded with repeated use.Use this light on a daily basis and it will deplete the batteries fairly quickly, whereupon one must fetch the small screwdriver and take out the little screws, taking care that they don't roll off the counter and disappear forever.

The second design defect of note is the brittle plastic attachment clip.Mine finally snapped under the stress of routine use, owing to the manufacturer's befuddling choice of an inferior yogurt container-type of plastic.

If you ride a lot and want dependable gear, I suggest Planet Bike's stuff, which exhibits a comparable level of operating performance but much better design.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Blackburn Mars 3.0 Flasher Rear Bicycle Light

Product Description:
An essential measure for any safety-conscious biker, the Blackburn Mars 3.0 Rear Bicycle Light will help make sure you are seen by traffic in plenty of time. The Mars 3.0 is constructed in a tough, water-resistant case and utilizes seven super-bright red LEDs. This rear bicycle light features lens optics that increase its visible distance, and side LEDs that provide 180-degree safety-boosting visibility. Blackburn's Mars 3.0 runs on two AAA batteries (included) for up to 50 hours in steady mode, or 150 hours in flash mode.
About Blackburn
In 1975, Jim Blackburn set out to design stronger, lighter, more innovative and more reliable cycling products. The first were bags and racks designed for touring. From there, Blackburn grew. Over the next 30 years, Blackburn's spark of innovation would lead to many revolutionary products, like the first high quality aircraft aluminum rack, the first dual stroke minipump, the first oversized mountain minipump and the first dual stage/dual stroke floorpump just to name a few. For 2005, Blackburn's creative spark is burning brighter than ever. And as we head into our 30th year, Blackburn is re-dedicated to designing smart, reliable, no nonsense accessories that are essential to your riding experience.

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Nirve Tiki Ornament Bike Light Review

It's great fun for the price, it looks marevelously wacky on a bicycle, and provides a minimal amount of increased night time visibility.On the other hand, it's pretty cheaply made, and I gave up after too much time spent on trying to attach it to the handle bars with the mounting equipment that's included.It might mount easily to an old fashioned bicycle front wheel fender, but if I had a vintage bike like that, I wouldn't mar it with extra holes.I ended up attaching it to the rear bike rack using duct tape, and that actually makes it more amusing.

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Product Description:
BRAND NEW AND READY TO SHIP DONT MISS OUT ON THIS EXCELLETN PRODUCT

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